Sports

Daily Madden: Noisy Fans The New Norm At Golf Tournaments?

Jason Dufner of the United States hits his tee shot on the first hole during the final round of the 95th PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club on August 11, 2013 in Rochester, New York. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

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SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – Crowds are expected to be rowdy at sporting events, like NFL games or in Major League Baseball stadiums, but at golf tournaments – maybe not so much?

Apparently the times are changing with fans at PGA tournaments yelling and reacting to both good shots and bad, as was seen at this past weekend’s PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York. Ian Poulter even took to Twitter, calling for the PGA Tour to “taser” the people shouting out right after shots.

“I think (the PGA Tour) is going to have to give in and let (the fans) do it. Those guys are supposed to be pros and it happens in other sports, even Little League baseball,” John Madden told the KCBS Morning Crew.

Madden said, despite complaints from players and even some television analysts, the PGA Tour should embrace the new wave of fans, calling it a way to bring in a younger audience.

“They have TV. They have the sponsors. And now, they have to work on keeping the people coming. And sometimes, they have to make concessions,” he said.

Madden said all sports have to work on making the experience more fan-friendly to keep people coming out to events. In many cases, more fans are watching on television rather than actually going to stadiums, arenas and golf courses to view the action in person.

Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM.

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